Edward Rowan Finnegan (June 5, 1905 – February 2, 1971) was an attorney and politician from
Illinois. He served as a member of the
U.S. representative from
Illinois from 1961 to 1964 and a judge of the
Circuit Court of Cook County from 1964 until his death.
Biography
Finnegan was born in Chicago and attended the parochial schools.
He graduated from St. Rita High School, and attended
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago (Loyola or LUC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1870 by the Society of Jesus, Loyola is one of the largest Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Cathol ...
and
Northwestern University Law School.
Finnegan graduated from
DePaul University with a
LL.B. degree in 1930.
He was
admitted to the bar in 1931 and practiced in Chicago.
In 1939, Finnegan unsuccessfully sought the
Democratic
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
nomination for municipal court judge.
In 1945, he was appointed an assistant
state's attorney
In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a loc ...
for
Cook County, and served until 1956.
He served as an assistant city
corporation counsel from 1956 to 1957.
In 1960, Finnegan was elected to the
United States House of Representatives from
Illinois' 12th district.
After redistricting, he was reelected from the 9th district in 1962.
He served from January 1961 until resigning in December 1964.
Finnegan ran in the newly configured 9th district in 1962 because incumbent
Sidney R. Yates
Sidney Richard Yates (August 27, 1909 – October 5, 2000) was an American politician from the state of Illinois. A native of Chicago, he graduated from Lake View High School in 1928. He received bachelor's (1931) and law (1933) degrees fro ...
won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator. In the general election, Yates was unsuccessful in his campaign against Republican incumbent
Everett Dirksen.
Finnegan was renominated for the US House in April 1964. Later that month, he nearly drowned while swimming at the Lake Shore Club. A lifeguard administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation for several minutes before he regained consciousness, and he was hospitalized for several days.
Finnegan decided later in 1964 that he preferred to serve as a judge, while Yates desired to return to the U.S. House. In October 1964, Finnegan resigned the U.S. House nomination. Yates was chosen as his replacement and easily won the November election.
Finnegan was nominated for judge of the
Circuit Court of Cook County.
He won his November 1964 election, then resigned from Congress shortly before the expiration of his term.
Finnegan served on the bench from December 1964 until his death.
Finnegan died at a Chicago hospital on February 2, 1971.
He was buried at
All Saints Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in
Des Plaines, Illinois.
Family
Finnegan's first wife, Katherine, died in 1961.
They were the parents of three daughters—Sara, Moira, and Kathleen.
In 1964, Finnegan married Iris McCreevey, who survived him.
References
External links
*
1905 births
1971 deaths
Politicians from Chicago
Loyola University Chicago alumni
DePaul University College of Law alumni
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois
Judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County
20th-century American lawyers
20th-century American politicians
20th-century American judges
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